Mindanao is Generally Peaceful, It is Only Those Areas Where Our President Promotes and Tolerates Terrorism That is in Chaos

Mindanao for centuries has been generally peaceful, thus it is incorrect for President Aquino to say that the BBL is the only way for Mindanao to achieve. In fact, Mindanao should not be defined by the chaos that is happening in a number of municipalities of which is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The perception of our fellow countrymen of the status of the peace and order in Mindanao is the result of ignorance in our nation’s history and geography. This has to be repeated, Mindanao is composed of six regions of which ARMM is one of them. When our President says that Mindanao has not achieved peace, he ignores and insults the sensibilities of the majority of the residents of Mindanao. Is CARAGA (Region XIII) composed of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur at war and not at peace? How about SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) composed of Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City is at war? Our regional provincial, municipal leaders and barangays in Davao Region (Region XI) have been successful in maintaining peace and order in the provinces of Compostela Valley, Davao, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental. Then why our President hard sells his bill (Bangsa Moro Basic Law) blackmailing us with the idea that there will be no peace in Mindanao unless his bill will be passed?

Northern Mindanao (Region X) composed of Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin and Bukidnon of which Muslims are residents though a minority are generally peaceful and are living harmoniously.

Then how about Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)? Composed of the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and the cities of Isabela and Zamboanga that are at war? It is generally peaceful despite the presence of Muslims because they have lived harmoniously and has accepted the norm that a nation is unified by its diverse religious beliefs because of One Flag.

There are terrorists acts that occurred in few of these provinces committed by New People’s Army but that does not make the area at war because if our President says so, then why not declare Luzon being at war since there has been skirmishes and atrocities committed in its towns?

Mindanao is generally peaceful but our President has sabotaged the efforts of our leaders to attract tourists. Gloria de Dapitan and Dakak is in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte do we say that tourists should not be there? The other regions takes pride of their respective historical and tourist sites why not promote them? With our President declaring that his administration is in control and the island generally peaceful.

The problem is that our government as espoused by our President has condoned, tolerated to the point of promoting the arming and the terrorist acts of MILF and BIFF instead of going after them. Our President’s fault is adopting the Spider Web Justice which means that like the spider web, it catches only the flies but the carabao escapes by breaking the whole web. This is what is happening in Mamasapano and in the province of Maguindanao, just like President Arroyo, PNOY tolerates the existence of PAG (private armed groups) in the Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi which incidentally are part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. These armed groups and the MILF and BIFF carries high powered firearms not just by a dozen members but in hundreds and we tell people that we will arrest law abiding citizens who are not able to renew their licenses pursuant to Republic Act 10591? The Maguindanao Massacre killing 34 persons including journalists was the result of the past administrations tolerance of the Private Armed Groups in 2009. Yet, we have not seen the end of it, President Aquino, whom I voted who promised not to ape or copy everything bad that Gloria did is simply following the footsteps of the latter. Now, during President Benigno Aquino’s administration it is not only the Private Armed Groups in Maguindanao that has become bolder, so much so with the birth of terrorist groups like BIFF.

How could the citizenry have trust in our Criminal Justice System when we prosecute a police officer who killed a robber in the pursuance of his duty and let go of hundreds of terrorists when they murdered 44 of our Special Action Force Troopers?

The reason why Maguindanao is in chaos, it is because our President refused to enforce our laws and dispense justice. The BBL will surely expand the chaos that is happening in Mamasapano to the entire province and provinces it wants to include.

Mindanao is generally peaceful and is at peace, it is only the mind of our President is in chaos and has no peace.

Marayaw maynaat to my Tausog bagays (friends), Mapiya kapipita to my Maranao friends and to all Filipinos of whatever religion and region, we are all one because we salute and honor ONE FLAG, ONE COUNTRY and WE ARE ALL ONE PEOPLE:

WE ARE FILIPINOS. God Bless our nation, God Bless the Philippines.

About the Author: Clarence Paul V. Oaminal is a lawyer and author of ‘The Textbook on The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002’. He is the Vice-chairman and Undersecretary of the Dangerous Drugs Board and is the current adviser and presiding officer of Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council. He also hosts the local advocacy program ‘Krimen ug Drugas’ in CCTN Channel 47.